Haptics in minimally invasive surgery--a review

Area of Science:

• Medical Engineering
• Surgical Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has advanced significantly, yet tactile feedback remains limited.
• Current MIS techniques often lack crucial haptic information, potentially impacting surgical precision and safety.
• Research into haptic feedback in MIS has been ongoing since 1985, with increasing interest in recent years.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of research on haptic information feedback in MIS.
• To identify the current state and potential benefits of haptic feedback in surgical procedures.
• To highlight areas where enhanced haptic perception could improve surgical outcomes and patient safety.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of research from 1985 to the present.
• Analysis of studies focusing on haptic feedback integration in minimally invasive surgical tools and techniques.
• Evaluation of surgeon's reported benefits and limitations regarding haptic information.

Main Results:

• Haptic information feedback is currently underutilized but demonstrates significant promise in MIS.
• Surgeons report benefits from additional force information, particularly in understanding grasping forces and detecting slippage.
• There is a notable gap in understanding how augmented haptic feedback can prevent tissue trauma during manipulation.

Conclusions:

• Haptic feedback is a promising area for enhancing surgical performance in MIS.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the advantages of improved haptic perception for preventing tissue damage.
• Augmented haptic information feedback holds potential for improving safety and efficacy in minimally invasive procedures.